Alpine Glow

Alpine Glow - Alpenglühen

At sunset, a sequence of colours seen on snow-covered peaks. The term derives from the German Alpenglühn and therefore is also known as alpenglow. The true alpine glow begins when the Sun is still above the horizon. The Sun illuminates mountain tops as the valleys are already shaded.

The peaks and ridges assume a series of colours starting from yellow-orange and becoming pink, rosy, reddish, and finally purple, before being overtaken by the shadow of the Earth. Subsequently, when the Sun is at least 3-4° below the horizon, and if the purple light is present, the mountains may be illuminated by a purple glow, known as the afterglow. The same series of colours in reverse order is seen on mountains at sunrise. Then on the western slopes of course.

The pictures show alpine glow on some of the world's most famous peaks: the Grindelwald mountain range, Mount Everest and the Matterhorn in Switzerland. It is true that the Alps are the 'home' of the alpine glow, but Mt Everest surely displays one of the most 'dramatic' glows.